The Manteca Unified School District has announced the selection of Walter Woodward Elementary School to participate in the second year of Middle School Matters (MSM) Institute. This second round of schools expands the program to 16 schools, spanning four states, including California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
MSM schools receive high-quality research-based school improvement strategies from the Bush Institute’s national experts, yearlong professional support, and an invitation to the three-day Middle School Matters Summer Conference.
Woodward Principal Sherrie Jamero, commenting on the selection of her school for this honor, said, “We are excited for the opportunity for our staff to bring back new strategies and ideas to continue to provide inspirational instruction in our 6-8th-grade classrooms.”
The team attending the training includes school Vice Principal Rebecca Robinson, Program Coordinator Michelle Crippen, school librarian Renee Miramontes, 6th-grade teacher Rebecca Kerns, 7th-and 8th-grade teachers Rob Gulden and Martha Martinez, and RSP teacher Janet Gomes.
“This group of dedicated professionals will be able to translate the lessons learned to the entire junior high staff as we continue to develop programs of excellence,” stated Jamero.
Over the past several years, the Bush Institute, in partnership with The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin has convened numerous top n ational education researchers who have translated research into practice in schools, and provided effective support to schools chosen to be a part of this select group.
“Through Middle School Matters, the Bush Institute builds a bridge between our top expert researchers in the field, and those in the classrooms charged with preparing our students for success in high school and post-secondary endeavors,” said Beth Ann Bryan, Interim Director of Education Reform at the George W. Bush Institute. “We are making proven strategies for success in the middle grades available to our teachers and school leaders across the nation.”
The newly selected schools were chosen from a pool of nationwide applicants. Sharon Vaughn, Executive Director of MCPER at the University of Texas commented, “We are thrilled at having the opportunity to work with such progressive middle schools that are committed to using proven strategies for success in the middle grades with our teachers and school leaders across the nation.”
For more information on how Middle School Matters supports middle grade educators, and to learn more about other Education Reform Initiatives at the George W. Bush Institute, visit www.bushcenter.org.
About Middle School Matters
Compelled by Mrs. Laura W. Bush’s conviction “Middle school is the last and best chance to prepare students for a successful high school career,” the Bush Institute founded Middle School Matters (MSM) to transform the formative middle grades so that a greater number of children are given the foundational skills needed for high school and post-secondary success.
MSM’s mission is two-fold: to transform the middle grades by promoting research-based tools, practices, and solutions and to drive the development of policies that lead to better student outcomes. MSM has two primary elements that will help us achieve these goals: 1) Promote middle grades reform through an alliance with individuals who influence decisions made for/in middle grades and 2) Develop practical tools and supports based on solid research for middle grade reform initiatives, school districts, and middle school campuses so they can drive research into their work.
For more information about MSM and supporting our efforts to help students successfully complete high school by building a strong foundation in the middle grades, please contact Gina Rodriguez at middleschoolmatters@bushcenter.org.
